Hi, another first builder

[Earl]

I'm not a gamer, but looking to build a high powered PC that can run multiple virtual machines simultaneously, for as little money as I can. The build I arrived at is about $650 excluding warranties for some of the less expensive items, from Newegg.com

I'm basically ready to check out but want to make sure that I have all compatible components before I make this large purchase. I've done research and spent some time on this but I need to have this computer up and running soon so I just need some confirmation from somebody who knows what they're talking about.

Here it is;

CPU
AMD FX-6100 Zambezi 3.3GHz Socket AM3+ 95W Six-Core Desktop Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103962

Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA 970 SATA 6GB/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128521

Memory
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2x4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR# 1866(PC314900)Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBXLhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231455

HDD
Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0 Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

Optical
LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
(this drive says it's compatible with Vista but says nothing about windows 7. Some people say 7 and Vista are the same thing so would this theoretically work with Windows 7?)(Would it be possible to load the first OS with an external USB drive? I don't really want to worry about an optical drive at this point)

Graphics
ZOTAC ZT-84GEM2M-HSL GeForce 8400 GS 512 MB 64 bit DDR3 PCIe 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready
ZOTAC ZT-84GEM2M-HSL GeForce 8400 GS 512MB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card

Case
XION XON-180 Meshed Black/Red Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
XION XON-180 Meshed Black/Red Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Cooling
two or three 120 mm fans?
CPU comes with it's own fan and heat sink

Power
Linkworld Linkpower ATX-550 LPG12-35-p4 550W ATX 12V REV. 2.01 Pwr Supply 1-7 Ready
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817165041

I'll be using my 32 inch dynex monitor, infrared mouse, hp keyboard, monsoon speaker system, and belkin usb wireless NIC

Should I proceed with checkout?

[RickyTick]

You should consider going with a better power supply. Stay with a name brand with a known track record. Something like: Corsair, Antec, SeaSonic, OCZ, Cooler Master, or PC P&C.

The 8400GS is really a low end graphics card. I know you're not a gamer, but I would suggest a current generation card. Maybe a Radeon 6450, or Nvidia GT520.

[Earl]

Thank you so much for replying. I was afraid I came off as such a noob I would get nothing. I'm actually studying for A+ and this is one way of learning eh?

[Earl]

So by better you are implying that you don't trust the manufacturer to produce quality?
Or do you think it's not enough power for what this system could potentially pull once
I'm running multiple SATA drives with 16GB of memory, etc?
I was just looking for a fairly inexpensive power supply that basically had plenty of SATA power
since my MoBo is doesn't support IDE at all.

Thanks.

[RickyTick]

The wattage is plenty. It's just not a high quality product.
Take a look at this. It's a little more expensive, but a very top notch unit.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

Good luck on the A+. It's a worthwhile certificate if you're planning a career in IT.
This is some helpful information.
http://www.proprofs.com/certification/comptia/a-plus/index.shtml

[zburns]

It is far less expensive for a manufacturer to 'level' with customers than to misrepresent a specification -- meaning 'tell the truth'. Over the long haul, an honest product gains a manufacturer a lot of respect and trust; as the manufacturer moves along with new products, he is able to sell those new products because of the 'trust' built up over a period of time because of the performance of the older products. Once a manufacturer has earned a reputation for quality and performance, it is 'easy' to lose and awfully hard to ever get it back!!

[Earl]

1 x ($159.99) AMD FX-6100 Zambezi 3.3GHz Socket AM3+ 95W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6100WMGUSBX $159.99
1 x ($89.99) GIGABYTE GA-970A-D3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $89.99
1 x ($84.99) Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - OEM $84.99
1 x ($59.99) CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $59.99
1 x ($59.99) G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBXL $59.99
1 x ($39.99) SAPPHIRE 100322L Radeon HD 6450 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card $39.99
1 x ($34.99) XION XON-180 Meshed Black/Red Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $34.99
2 x ($9.99) 1 Yr Service Net Replacement Plan@For Item#N82E16813128521, N82E16817139027 $19.98
1 x ($16.99) 1 Yr Service Net Replacement Plan@For Item#N82E16819103962 $16.99
1 x ($15.99) LG 22X Super-Multi DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model GH22NS90B - OEM $15.99
1 x ($13.99) Syba SY-ACC65029 CPU Stand with 5 Castors Wheel, Plastic, Black Color, Adjustable Width $13.99
3 x ($4.23) APEVIA CF12S-BK 120mm Case Fan $12.69
1 x ($9.99) V7 SA0706B-8N6 6 ft. 7 Outlets 1200 Joules Home/Office Surge Protector $9.99
1 x ($9.99) 1 Year Service Net Replacement PlanFor Item#N82E16822148767 $9.99
1 x ($5.99) 1 Year Service Net Replacement PlanFor Item#N82E16814102933 $5.99
1 x ($4.99) Rosewill RTK-002 Anti-Static Wrist Strap $4.99
Extended Warranty: $52.95
Subtotal: $640.53
Tax: $0.00
Shipping and Handling: $17.34
Rush Order: $2.99
Total Amount: $660.86

[RickyTick]

Nice job Earl. Let us know if you have any problems.

[ARchamps]

Good choice on the PSU. Sometimes, the "lower-end" PSUs may not reach the advertised wattage (you can google reviews to see what I mean - johnnyguru is a great source). Overall, pretty good build and leaves you open to upgrades down the line.

[zburns]

A further comment on foreign made PSUs. To best understand PSUs and their importance, first realize that the PSU powers every other component in the computer, and you want those voltages / currents to be accurate within a specified range. Also, you want the 'protection circuits' (there is more than one protection circuit) to 'WORK' as advertised.

However, here is my main point about low cost psus. Some of the brand name psu manufacturers may design and engineer their own power supplies but contract to have them made in foreign countries (example # 1) -- but contrast this, just mentioned, situation with a 'marketeer' type company who buys 'already designed psus' from a foreign company and fits the 'marketing statements' to the foreign product being purchased (example # 2) and puts a very low price on the product. Both examples are theoretical, not actual that I have knowledge of.

In Example 1, one can probably trust that manufacturer; in example 2, how does one really know the 'fair' answer. One answer is to read multiple reviews of which there should be plenty. In the last few months, I actually read two 'user reviews' where the user claimed that the psu failed and actually took out other components such as the motherboard! But even with these two failures describe by actual builders, you may not know the 'true' story -- it is just hard to know the actual facts! But when you read a review from a trusted reviewer, you should be getting good info -- but again longevity of reputation matters.

The input to a power supply is 110 volts ac. The output to your motherboard is +12 volts dc and there is an 'overvoltage' protection circuit to 'shut down' this particular circuit if 'the circuitry fails and the voltage tries to surge beyond +12 volts. Even a surge lasting just microseconds or worse, milliseconds can damage or knock out the motherboard. (In addition to the overvolt protection circuit, there are at least three other protection circuits)

My entire point is to buy from a trusted and proven manufacturer when it comes to power supplies; in other words, a manufacturer who has years of experience building computer psu's and a reputation to go with those 'years'.

[Earl]

So are some of those concerns negated with external surge protection at a high Joules rating along with possible further protection from a UPS, providing everything is wired correctly? Or can a strong enough power supply diminish the need for external surge protection, etc?

[Bryon]

Looks like a good PSU, only thing I would watch out for is a large amount of reports that is has a loud whine and clicks.

Bryon

[zburns]

So are some of those concerns negated with external surge protection at a high Joules rating along with possible further protection from a UPS, providing everything is wired correctly? Or can a strong enough power supply diminish the need for external surge protection, etc?

An external 'switch box with additional 110 volt outlets and surge protection', is there because of 'external to your home hazards' from the power company electrical system. Surges sometimes due to lighting storms; sometimes due to failure of power company electrical transformers -- a variety of causes. My point is 'electrical surges in voltage due to causes external to your home (or business).

If the PSU had input protection against such surges sufficient for 'protection', such a 'feature' would be advertised by the PSU manufacturer in a manner that would be described as 'no external protection from electrical surges required'.

You need a known quality PSU and you need a separate incoming multiple outlet surge protector.

[ARchamps]

As zburns said, surge protectors and UPS will not negate a bad PSU. Those devices will protect you from the harm a power outage might have on your computer.

[zburns]

Your other components, ie. monitor, printer, external usb devices, even the sound system are all vulnerable to power company electrical spikes, so it is not like you buy a surge protector or UPS just to protect the internal computer components.